When talking about freshening up a home, you might be able to get it done with some paint. Everyone loves the idea of adding color to their home once in a while because it makes their space look different.
However, painting can be a difficult task sometimes and some people even reject the idea of doing it. Even though it can be kind of difficult sometimes to get the job done perfectly the first time.
10 tips and tricks to simplify painting jobs for you
1. Wait for Dry Weather
Humidity implies drips and prolonged drying, so, do not paint on a rainy day. If you have to paint at a humid temperature, take your time and use the slow-drying paint to your advantage by correcting your errors before you proceed to the next coat. But avoid overworking, or it will reflect when you are done.
2. Perform a Thorough Visual Survey and Prep
Flaking cracked, or peeling spots must be lightly sanded or scraped (and then rinsed properly) before you apply new primer and paint because the old paint will pull loose by the weight of the new coat. This will lead to wasting of time and money if you fail to tackle it, according to Senior VP of Consumer Marketing for Behr, Tom Lee. You may also need to wash greasy spots lightly with soap and then rinse with clean water. Or, you can quickly wipe down the walls using a damp cloth so that the surface will be clean and free of dust for the paint to easily adhere to.
3. Purchase Top-Quality Brushes, Painter’s Tape, and Roller Covers
If you are applying top-quality paint, you surely don’t want to waste any penny on the application. With good brushes and rollers, you will get great coverage so that your time and paint are not wasted on re-application, and quality painter’s tape is the perfect tool for sealing out drips and blurs.
4. Identify Your Nap
The more texture on your walls, the thicker nap you will want to have on your roller’s cover, so, it can get into crevices and provide total coverage. But if you make it excessively thick, you might then make a texture in the wrong place, so, make sure you are prepared to provide details to your salesperson about what you are painting.
5. Protect Things You Want to Prevent from Painting. Remove Outlet Covers and Light Switches
You will appreciate the time you spend covering furniture, floors, and hardware before you start a painting project. Drop clothes are required, and you can easily protect doorknobs by using small plastic sandwich bags sealed with tape. If you don’t have enough patience, you will be tempted to skip this simple process of removing outlet covers and light switches, but don’t.
6. Keep Brushes Soft by Soaking Them in Fabric Softener
Every DIY painter has experienced the sad stories of any day-old brush with stiff bristles that make the second round almost impossible. Consider this painting trick instead:
- Rinse thoroughly (avoid soap)
- Get a gallon of warm water to mix half a cup of fabric softener
- Dip and hold brushes in the mixture for 10 sec
- Lay brushes flat or hang them on a leg till next morning
That will prevent bristles from forming a bend and will keep their usefulness for your next painting job, according to Artem Filikov, vice president of the marketing and product development section of home improvement site HomeYou. Also, you don’t need to rinse before using. The softener also helps in the smooth distribution of paint.
7. Use Primer
A mix of paint and primer is perfect if your surfaces is already clean and smooth, but if your surfaces have issues or it has been long since your last paint (say 8 years), just consider using another primer. If you are covering a highly challenged surface (like glass or high-gloss paint), consider a bonding primer like Insl-x Stix Waterborne Bonding Primer from Benjamin Moore or KILZ Adhesion Interior and Exterior Bonding Primer.
8. Box Your Paint
Have your salesperson assist you with an actual estimate of the amount of paint you will need to buy once and for all. Then, thoroughly mix all paint into a large container instead of using it by the gallon. This is called boxing your paint and it ensures consistent color from start to end.
9. Allow the Roller do the Work
Premium paints are used today easily on; and you’ve chosen a quality roller cover already, so you don’t need to apply much pressure. Make sure you make use of an extension pole, so, you can get the highest coverage of the area with little effort and without straining your back.
10. Paint from Top to Bottom
After you’ve cut your boundaries at the ceiling and baseboard with a brush, apply paint from the ceiling downward using your roller. Amateur painters have revealing drips and after completing a paint job, but professionals paint exactly on their mistakes as they work their roller down the surface. Immediately an area begins to dry, it is best to just leave it. Working over it again can leave color streaks on the surface of the paint.
Conclusion
Painting a room can be handled by DIYers themselves. Obtaining professional-looking results, however, needs planning. Spending time to do the job properly is worth it. Make use of these simple painting tips to ensure your painting process is faster and less messy, and make sure you have a fresh, modern appearance for your home.
